#631 Katie L. CS: 1,2,3,4,7,8. obsessive-compulsive disorder, PTSD

A deeply inappropriate worthiness interview when I was 12 or 13 years old traumatized me when a bishop went through the “For the Strength of Youth” pamphlet and asked me about every single item inside, including my media viewing habits, my friendships, masturbation, “necking/petting,” etc. It was overwhelming and terrifying. The sexual questions in particular…

#629 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,4,6,7,8. Other: Anxiety, Depression, Panic Attacks, Loss of faith

When I was 8 years old and receiving my worthiness interview for baptism, I remember feeling uncomfortable. I didn’t know my bishop well beyond singing songs to him in sacrament meeting and making candy posters for him in primary. I was taught that he was safe, good, loved me, and had my best interests at…

#628 Christine W. CS: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

I remember hitting myself at night when I came home from church in my early teens as I just couldn’t stay away from masturbation. I stopped for a year while living with my father. I then felt so guilty after a babysitting porn book relapse, that I told my father, who immediately had me into…

#627 Georgia S. CS: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10

My husband is a retired police officer. There have been many times when he was investigating child abuse cases where bishops and other church leaders would not cooperate with the investigations. They stated this was a matter being handled within the church. They would not give any information. They were protecting the perpetrator, and the…

#623 Name Withheld. CS 1,2,3,4,7,8

I began masturbating without knowing what it was. When I realized I felt afraid and guilty, feeling I’d done the worst thing save murder. A few months later, at age 13, I told my bishop. He asked me to describe how I had been doing it, how often, and for how long. He also told…

#622 Katharine M. CS: 1,3,4,5,7,8,9

I. I was born into an LDS family. Throughout my childhood and youth, my father served in major positions of leadership, respect and trust, including bishop, stake high councilman, branch president and Gospel Doctrine teacher. Throughout my childhood and youth, my mother served in major positions of leadership, respect and trust, including Relief Society president,…

#621 Jessalynn S. CS: 1,2,3,4,7,8,9

The other day, I found myself reading through the journal entries I’d written both before and after I was formally disfellowshipped from the Church. I was disfellowshipped when I was 14 years old. Like many Mormon girls my age growing up on the Wasatch front, the LDS church was my whole life. My family went…

#618 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,10

There’s nothing quite like trying to be the best child of God you can be – praying fervently, loving scripture study, always lending a hand to fellow brothers and sisters in need – and being told behind a closed door with your bishop that masturbation will damn you and keep you separated from God. Nothing…

#615 Name Hidden. CS: 1,2,3,4,8,9

I was 14 and in an interview with the bishop, a trusted neighbor from up the street, when I first felt violated. I watched his eyes shift from my face to my breasts as he told me, “Never let any boys touch your breasts. Many of them will want to.” I instantly felt uncomfortable. Why…